Book Lovers Unite @ Lifeline Bookfest Brisbane

Brisbane is a town that loves its books.

Every year, tens of thousands of Brisbane readers (as well as a wealth of visitors from around Australia, and the occasional international tourist) descend upon Lifeline Bookfest Brisbane to explore and adopt thousands of pre-loved books.

Lifeline Bookfest has grown rapidly through the years, from a long weekend event in Brisbane into a statewide phenomenon; and the latest Brisbane event is giving readers more time to find bargains than ever before.

Image © Kylie Thompson

We love a good story, and until 26 January the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre will be a wonderland of potential reads to suit even the fussiest of tastes. Whether you’re a fan of cookbooks, history, popular culture, or an eye-boggling array of novels, there are tables at BCEC groaning under the weight of all your options.


For those not of a literary persuasion, there is a wealth of CDs, DVDs and records available to help you source those hard to find classics.

Since the first, printed editions of the Bible, people have believed that books can save lives, and it’s a belief that Lifeline has run with in their creation of Bookfest. At each event, Bookfest raises desperately needed funds to maintain Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis helpline, as well as other community care ventures from Lifeline and UnitingCare.

In its simplest terms, every book bought supports vulnerable members of the community during their times of need. A $2.50 novel might not seem like much, but every bit helps to make sure that every call for help is answered.


Bookfest is divided into three sections: the high-quality space where each book is individually priced, the $2.50 space, and the $1 space, making sure that there’s something for every budget.

If there is one problem with Bookfest, one that’s echoed yearly by the majority of visitors, it’s that everyone buys far more than they think they will. If you love a bargain or books in general, it’s a good idea to splurge on parking and avoid the back strain of carrying books home.


Truth be told, though, finding room for new reads and supporting a worthy cause isn’t really much of a problem. There are trolleys available to hire on-site, and canvas bags to buy as needed. If you have sturdy bags at home, it’s a good idea to bring them along. The biodegradable plastic bags don’t fare well under the strain of books.

For those worried that the best books will be gone by the time you get there, I’m happy to report there are still masses of books left to unpack that need to added to the tables. So even if you can’t get in until this weekend, there will be a lot of great titles available.